Obituary for Ronald L. Johnson
On the morning of April 30, 2012, Ronald Larice Johnson of Blackstone, Virginia. having fought a good fight with an extended illness, found healing in the call from labor to reward. He slipped quietly away at Amelia Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Blackstone, Virginia on November 19, 1948; the oldest of three children to the late Larice and Thelma Johnson.
He was educated in the Nottoway County Schools, graduating from Luther H. Foster High School in 1967 where he was affectionately known as “Tippy”. While a student there, he played football and basketball. After graduation, he was employed at Phillip Morris, Clays Hatchery (Brickland Enterprises) and Wal-Mart.
As a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Ronald felt he could best work and share his love for the Lord through singing with the Men of Shiloh, serving on the Media and Men’s Ministry, and as a Trustee until his health declined.
Because of his love for youth and his desire to serve his community, Ronald served on the Executive Board of the Nottoway Youth Football Association and served as Coach of the Varsity Gator Football Team. He was also a member of the Summer Knights Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Left to cherish his memory is a loving and dedicated wife, Deborah Smith Johnson of the home; one son, Reginald M. Johnson, Blackstone; two daughters Angela Johnson-Thomas, Richmond and Rhondye D. Johnson Blackstone; ten grandchildren, Jasmine Oliver, G’Marae Knight, Natalie and Nathan Thomas all of Richmond, M’kaylah, Alexis and Michael Lewis, Jr., Sanje’, Reginald and Kai’Ron Johnson, Blackstone; two great-grandsons, Shane and Jase Herbin of Richmond; two sisters, Patricia J. Greenhill (Larry) of Clinton, Maryland and Beverly J. Clay (Floyd) of Blackstone; two sisters-in- law, Jacquelyn S. Cooper, Durham, North Carolina and Dr. Johnnye Massenburg-Johnson (Earl) of Midlothian, Virginia; three aunts, Charity A. Townes, Norma Jean Carter and Emma Anderson, Baltimore, Maryland, Melson Johnson, Elizabeth Foster, Blackstone; one uncle, Roy Johnson (Evelyn), Brockton, Massachusetts; two nephews, Charles Norman, Jr., Creedmoor, North Carolina and Tony Johnson (Celina) of Pasadena, California; Vikki A. Walker, Durham, North Carolina, Florence N. Harris (Leon), Clayton, North Carolina, Charna G. Brooks (Joseph), Waldorf, Maryland, Tia N. Moorefield, Pasadena, California; a host of other relatives and friends which included special friends, James Neal, Sr., Ashur Maddux, Julius Evans, an adopted son Tracy Merritt, adopted daughter LaToya Lewis and a devoted cousin, Carolyn Hobbs Farrar.
Ronald endured a number of years of sickness, but he never complained.
Funeral Services Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Greenview Cemetery, Blackstone.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of the arrangements.
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He was educated in the Nottoway County Schools, graduating from Luther H. Foster High School in 1967 where he was affectionately known as “Tippy”. While a student there, he played football and basketball. After graduation, he was employed at Phillip Morris, Clays Hatchery (Brickland Enterprises) and Wal-Mart.
As a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Ronald felt he could best work and share his love for the Lord through singing with the Men of Shiloh, serving on the Media and Men’s Ministry, and as a Trustee until his health declined.
Because of his love for youth and his desire to serve his community, Ronald served on the Executive Board of the Nottoway Youth Football Association and served as Coach of the Varsity Gator Football Team. He was also a member of the Summer Knights Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Left to cherish his memory is a loving and dedicated wife, Deborah Smith Johnson of the home; one son, Reginald M. Johnson, Blackstone; two daughters Angela Johnson-Thomas, Richmond and Rhondye D. Johnson Blackstone; ten grandchildren, Jasmine Oliver, G’Marae Knight, Natalie and Nathan Thomas all of Richmond, M’kaylah, Alexis and Michael Lewis, Jr., Sanje’, Reginald and Kai’Ron Johnson, Blackstone; two great-grandsons, Shane and Jase Herbin of Richmond; two sisters, Patricia J. Greenhill (Larry) of Clinton, Maryland and Beverly J. Clay (Floyd) of Blackstone; two sisters-in- law, Jacquelyn S. Cooper, Durham, North Carolina and Dr. Johnnye Massenburg-Johnson (Earl) of Midlothian, Virginia; three aunts, Charity A. Townes, Norma Jean Carter and Emma Anderson, Baltimore, Maryland, Melson Johnson, Elizabeth Foster, Blackstone; one uncle, Roy Johnson (Evelyn), Brockton, Massachusetts; two nephews, Charles Norman, Jr., Creedmoor, North Carolina and Tony Johnson (Celina) of Pasadena, California; Vikki A. Walker, Durham, North Carolina, Florence N. Harris (Leon), Clayton, North Carolina, Charna G. Brooks (Joseph), Waldorf, Maryland, Tia N. Moorefield, Pasadena, California; a host of other relatives and friends which included special friends, James Neal, Sr., Ashur Maddux, Julius Evans, an adopted son Tracy Merritt, adopted daughter LaToya Lewis and a devoted cousin, Carolyn Hobbs Farrar.
Ronald endured a number of years of sickness, but he never complained.
Funeral Services Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the Greenview Cemetery, Blackstone.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of the arrangements.
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